Table construction



R. E. JORDAN.

TABLE CONSTRUCTION- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19.' 1921.

19135 9650 Patented Nov. 21, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. E. JORDAN.

TABLE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1921.

Patented Nov. 21, 11.922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NNWN

TABLE GQNSTBUCTIUN.

Application filed March 19, 1821. Serial No. 453,554.

To all 207mm it may concern Be it known that 1', Homer Joan-ire, a izenof the United States, residing at ohicag'o in the county of Cook andState oi? 5 Illinois. have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Table Constructions,

of which the following is a full clear, concise, and exact descriptionreference being id to the accompanying drawings forming art or thisspecification. This invention relates to tables and more particularly toa sanitary table construction vrhe in the framework of the table is madeen irely of members having curved outer surfaces to avoid all ledges andangular embers in the construction and thus pre vent the accumulation ofdirt and other undesirable matter.

The general principle of the invention can be apgiilied to ordinarytables with fixed tops of any sort and to tables provided with movabletops or conveyors as well, both forms being shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

lit is a purpose of the present invention to provide a table of theabove mentioned character the framework of which is made up entirely ofmembers that substantially circular in cross section to thus avoid llledges upon which dirt or other may lodge.

it is further purpose of theinvention to provide table comprisingmembers er:- tending vertically itrom top to bottom cl said frameworkupon which bracket mom-- bers are mounted for securing transverse andlongitudinal members thereto, said 1118'5l3- her being continuous andextending through said bracket members. so it is another purpose of theinvention to provide a tabletl ramework comprising ver tical memberscontinuous from top to bottom thereof, connect-ed tog-reazher by meansof continuous transverse members both said transverse and said verticalmembers having members mounted thereon having sleeve like portionsextending; around said vertical and transverse members for connectingsaid vertical and transverse members together and for securinglongitudinally extending members thereto for completing said framework.The connected transverse and vertical members form a frame or sectionconstituting structural units any member of which may be connectedtogether by means of longitudinally extending members to form a table ofany desired l ngth. The longitudinah transverse and vertical members arep-ei erably formed of tubular members circ lar in cross section and theconnecting members are preferably made. in the form of castings of anydesired configuration and provided with circular bores therein toreceive one or more of the tubular members as desired. The tubularmembers preferably extend through said castings or fittings and thecastings or fittings are preferably held in place by means of set screwsin the position that it is desired to place them to construct a tablefor a desired purpose.

It is a still further purpose of the invention to provide a tablecarrying a conveyor or other mechanism of a similar character with aframework of the above mentioned character provided with suitablefittings mounted on any of said ransverse or ver tical members in anydesired position thereon to properly support the mechanism mounted onsaid table, said fittings-being passed over said tubular members so asto embrace the same and being secured thereto by means oi set screws orsimilar fastening means as described above.

It is another object of the invention to provide a conveyor on a tableof the general character described above that is readily cleanable soconstructed that the same can be thoroughlysterilized, said conveyorcomprising pairs of side chains having ind vidual pans arrangedtherebetween in 'a'htly spaced relation.

vention will appear the description of the accompanyingdrawings showingcertain forms that my invention may take proceeds. However, desire tohave it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myself tothe exact details shown or described but that I intend to include aspart of my invention all such obvious changes and modifications of partsas would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall withinthe scope of the claims.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevationof my improved table structure provided with afixed top;

Fig. 2 is. an end view thereof, the top being shown in dotted linestherein;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-4-3 of Fig. 2;

@ther objects and advantages of the intically extending i'i'ieinbers 7Fig. 4i. is a side elevation O'i a table constructed in accordance withmy lnvention, said table being provided with a conveyor mechanism.

Fig. 5 is section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view oi the table shown'in Fig. l.

Referring to Figs-1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings a table is showncomprising a framework having vertically extending posts 7 which arecontinuous from top to bottom of the vi ramework. The lower ends of theposts 7 have mounted thereon the flanged sleeves or collars 8 formingfeet for said posts or legs 7. Suitable transversely extending members 9are provided which are continuous from one of said vertically extendingposts or legs 7 to the other there of and are secured thereto'by meansof coupling members 10 and 11. T he members 10 and 11 are provided withbores or openings extending ther'ethroughfrom end to end thereof and areadapted to receive the vertherethrough. The members 10 are provided withlaterally extending bracket or ear portions 12 having a bore 13extending therettfiough, said here being adapted to receive the lowertransversely extending member 9. The members 11 are provided with boressimilar to the members 10 for receiving the vertically extending members7 a d with socket portions 14 for receiving the members 9, and withlaterally projecting brackets or cars 15 each having a bore 16 extendingtherethrough for receiving the longitudinally extending members 17. Eachof the members 8, 10' and 11 is secured to the members cooperatingtherewith byme'ans of set screws 18, said screws being omitted in Figs.1 to 3 in the drawings, except at the" members 1.0 in 2 and the member10 at the right of Fig. l. The upper trans erse member 9 and the uppercoupling members ll are adapted to, support a stationary table top 19,the table top 19 being secured to the mentibers 9 by means of the-shaped strap mcmbers 50 secured to the table top l9 in any desiredmanner. The members '7 9 and 17 are preferably circular in crosssectionas will be clear it om the drawings, and the coupling members 10 and 1].and the flanged members 8 are preferably provided with curved outersurfaces so as to avoid any lodging places for dirt or other foreign matter wherever possible.

It will be noted that the members 7 and 9 and the coupling membersconnecting the same form a table framework section and that any one ofthese sections may be joined together by means of the longitudinallyextending tubular members 17 form table otanydesiredlength.

It will also be seen that in constructing v portions thereof that wouldnot be of standardized size would be the members 7, 9 and 11, thesemembers varying'in accordance with the size of the table by varying onlyin one dimension, that is, the length. The same size tubing is used forall purposes so asto be adapted to be passed through the castings 8, 10and 11 so that a single size of casting for each purpose can be used forall tables.

it will also be noted that the position 01": the members 10 and 11 canbe varied along the vertically extending members 7 it desired, the samebeing preferably assembled with the vertical members in the followingmanner: The castings 8, l0 and 11 are passed over the members 7 and arebunched at the lower end thereof, the members 8 being se HiGjTllJQlS 11are moved into their Position adjacent the upper ends or the members 7and secured in place by means of the set screws.

transverse and longitudinal braces desired. It (lQSlTQCl the generalprlnclple of the table construction outlined above can be applied to atable provided witha moving top or conveyor, such as is shown in Figs. 4to 6 inclusive. In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6 the verticallyextending members 7 having the "flanged feet members 8 are used aspreviously described in connection with Figs. inclusive, and these areprovidedwith the members 10 carrying the transverse bracing members 9 asdescribed in connection with Fin s. 1 to 3. The members 7 are alsoprovided at their upper ends with the coupling members 11 shown in Figs.1 to 3 inclusive and which are adapted'to carry the longitudinallyextending members 17 as described heretofore. The members 11 are usedfor supporting the transverse members 9 which are identical with themembers 9..

but which are adapted to carry the conveyor mechanism in the mannerdescribed below. Mounted on the transverse members 9 are the castings 20provided with transversely '22, which are provided with bores extendingvertically for receiving the vertically extending members 21 "and withsocket members 23 Any number of members 10 and 11 can be used, dependlngupon the number of for receiving the transversely extending tubularmember 24, which member 24 serves to brace and space said members 21properly. The members 22 are provided with bracket portions 25 which areadapted to receive the longitudinally extending tubular members 26 whichserve as guideways for the rollers 27, which are secured to theunderside of the conveyor pans 28 by means of the bracket members 29.The members 9 also have mounted thereon so as to hold the same themembers 30 which carry guide members 31 for the side chains 82 and theconveyor pans 28 extending between and connected to opposite pairs oflinks 33 of said chains, as will be clear from Fig. 4. The pans 28 areslightly spaced at all times, the same being shown as being spaced whentraveling in a horizontal direction, as will be seen at the upper righthand side of l lg. 4. The conveyor chains 32 pass over the sprockets 34:at one end of the table framework and over the adjustable sprockets 35at the other end of said framework, said conveyor chains being driven inany desired manner. Sprockets 35 are adjustable by moving the block 36lengthwise in the guideway 37 so as to properly adjust the tension ofthe conveyor chains. In a table of the character described above, it isdesirable to have a rigid construction due to the fact that moving partsare mounted thereon, and preferably additional coupling members 38,which are provided with bores extending therethrough for receiving themembers 7, are-mounted on the vertically extending members 7. Themembers 38 are also provided with ears or projections 39 providingsockets 40 which are adapted to receive the longitudinally extendingbracing members 41, the same being held in place by means of the setscrews 18 as previously described.

As will be evident from Fig. t the members 17 and 41 also serve in thetype of table shown to hold certain parts of the conveyor mechanism. Itis of prurticular importance to provide a conveyor that can be readilykept in sterile condition in packing houses and similar places,especially where the conveyor is used for carrying parts of the animalsthat have been condemned as being diseased. or which are under suspicionof being idiseased along with parts that have passed inspection.

it will be seen that ii the conveyor is not thoroughly sterilized atevery revolution thereof that a conveyor section that had previouslycarried parts of a diseased animal might be used for carrying parts ofan animal that had passed inspection and thus contaminate the materialthat has been passed as being in a healthy condition. The materialcarried in a conveyor of this character usually contains quantities ofblood which is adapted to flow between ad.-

joining sections of aconveyor having flights, such as are ordinarilyused when the same pass around the sprocket w eels, and these sectionsbeing held clcs h gether at their adjacent edges when passing through asterilizing chamber, sucn as the chamber 42, these edges will not beproperly sterilized and the material that remains clinging thereto isquite liable to nate the next lot that is placed on the conveyorsection. However, with the pans shown all sides thereof are exposed tothe action of the sterilizing medium in the sterilizing chamber 42, andthis diiiiculty is overcome, thus producing a more sanitary device. Theupper end portions of the vertical members 7 are preferably providedwith the coupling members a3, which are adapted to carry thelongitudinally extending guard members 4%, as will be clear from Figs. 4and 5 of the drawings.

it will thus be seen that a table construction is provided that can beused both for tables with stationary tops and with tables carryingconveyors and that very simple and. sanitary structure is provided whichcan be adapted for tables of any size and for any purpose, and that aconveyor mechanism provided for conveyor tables that have individualpans, whereby the same can be more readily sterilized.

lP-laving thus described invention what I claim and desire to secure byU. S. Letters Patent is: i

1. A table framework of the character described comprising verticallyextending members and. transversely extending members connecting saidvertically e-Xten members, and means for detachably coupling saidtransversely extending 'members to said vertically extending members,said vertically extending members be 5 continuous "from top to bottom ofsaid. amewovk, all said'members having curved outer faces and saidcoupling members being shiftable relative to both s 1 vertical andtransverse members.

2. A l ra mework of the cl acter d escrihed comprising a plurality oi?sections, each oi. said sections comprising a pair oi continuous posts,a plurality oi transverse members, and coupling members having socketportions for receiving said posts and said transverse members andcoupling members mounted intermediate the ends of said transyersemembers. said last mentioned. coupling members being provided with meansfor supporting a conveyor structure and being shit'table on saidtransverse members.

3. A table framework comprising continuous vertically extendingmembers,- continuous transverse members, and coupling members connectingsaid vertical and trans- Verse members, said coupling members havingsocket portions surrounding said vertical and transverse members andbeing provided with means to clamp said coupling members in positionrelative to both said vertical. and transverse members, all said membershaving curved outer surfaces.

4. A table framework comprising continuous vertically extending members,continuous transverse members, longitudinal members, and couplingmembers connecting said vertical and transverse members, said couplingmembers having socket portions surrounding said vertical and transversemembers and being provided with means to clamp said coupling members inposition relative to said vertical and transverse members, certain ofsaid. coupling members being provided with socket portions to receivesaid longitudinal members, and being provided withjmeans for securingsaid longitudinal members in position therein A framework of thecharacter described comprising a plurality of sections, each of saidsections comprising a pair of continuous posts, a plurality oftransverse members, said posts and members having curved outer surfaces,and coupling members having socket portions for receiving said posts andsaid transverse members, certainof said coupling members being disposedintermediate the ends of said posts, said posts extending through saidmembers.

6. A framework of the character described comprising a plurality ofsections, each of said sections comprising a pair of continuous posts, aplurality of transverse members, and coupling members having socketportions for receiving said posts and said transverse members andcoupling members mounted intermediate the ends of said transversemembers.

7. A framework of the character described comprising a plurality ofsections, each of said sections comprising a pair of continuous posts, aplurality of transverse members, and coupling members having socketportions for receiving said posts and said transverse members andcoupling members mounted intermediate the ends of said transversemembers, said last mentioned coupling members being provided with meansfor supporting a conveyor structure.

8. A framework of the character described comprising a pluralityofsections, each of 9. A conveyor table having a framework comprising aplurality of sections, saidsections being provided with means forsupporting a conveyor structure, said conveyor structure comprising apair of side chains and individual. pans mounted between opposite pairsof links of said chains.

10. A conveyor table having a framework comprising a plurality ofsections, said sections being provided with means for supporting aconveyor structure, said conveyor structure comprising a pair of sidechains and individual pans mounted between opposite pairs of links ofsaid chains, said sections having guide means for the side chains ofsaid conveyor.

11. A conveyor table having a framework comprising a plurality ofsections, said sections being provided with means for supporting aconveyor structure, said conveyor structure comprising a pair of sidechains and individual pans mounted between opposite pairs of links ofsaid chains, said pans being substantially flush with the top of saidframework when in carrying position.

12. A conveyor table having a framework comprising a plurality ofsections,

said sections being provided with means for supporting a conveyorstructure, said conveyor structure comprising a pair of side chains andindividual pans mounted between opposite pairs of links of said chains,said conveyor being confined within said framework.

13. A table comprising a framework, comprising a plurality of sections,each of said sections comprising a pair of continuous posts, a pluralityof transverse members, and coupling members having socket portions. forreceiving said posts and said transverse members and coupling membersmounted intermediate the ends of said transverse members, a table topand means for securing said top to said framework.

14. A table comprising a framework, comprising a plurality of sections,each of said sections comprising a pair of continuous posts, a pluralityof transverse members, and coupling members having socket portions forreceiving said posts and said transverse members and coupling membersmounted intermediate the ends of said transverse members, a table topand means for securing said top to said framework, said means comprisingstraps extending around said transverse members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of March,A. D., 1921.

ROBERT E. JORDAN.

